Quell, I am

From the sun poking up,
To the moon dropping down,
Every which way I turned
was a discontent frown!

Being birthed in an egg,
With a crack, but no corners,
After speeding through air
Caused a ruffling of feathers.

No one heard my pecking,
No one really knew,
I was ready for sunshine
Before the boy threw!

So, flying through air,
At the near speed of light,
I had to think fast
And sit very upright!

Top heavy was I built,
A beak of a size,
My landing on feet
Would prove quite a surprise!

I braced myself firmly
For the stop of my life,
‘cause a sudden crash landing
Would prove more than a fright!

My feet helped to stop me,
My reflexes too,
But my feathers were frayed,
And my skin, wrinkled blue.

I thought of no problems
Getting out of my egg,
But the shell on my head
Stuck right where it laid!

So that’s how life started,
An egg-head, no flowers,
Crash-landing with pain,
No money or power.

It wasn’t poor planning,
That crooked this Quell’s life,
But a sudden crash-landing
Spearing me onto ice!

Yes, cold, I mean cold!
And a cold trip it’s been!
Though every so often
I’ve been warmed by a friend.

I wobbled from my egg,
Wondering where I would go,
What I would do?
Who I would know?

It was briefly a time,
A moment or two,
Where chickhood was freedom
And birds! Those years flew!!

Then fast as a snap!
Grabbed, snatched up by might,
I was thrown into work,
One yelled, “This is your life!”

Whirling ‘abruptly around,
“This is someone’s mistake!
I didn’t sign my name!
To this horrible fate!”

“No one asked, you Quell!”
Was the heartless reply.
“Your name’s on my timecard.
You’ll work ‘til you die!”

As a Quell, I did rise
At the first light of sun,
I worked, giving service,
‘til the work was all done.

I worked, faked a smile,
While others announced plans,
I nodded swift agreement
To each new, different plan.

I worked, coming home,
With sweat still on my brow,
Ate a bite, fell asleep,
Grasping dreams still, somehow.

I started out flailing,
Kicking wildly at life!
But following my dreams,
Made my Quell life all right!

I worked at my dream,
‘til I noticed a difference,
My Quell life had joy!
Laughter filled my existence!

I studied Red Quells,
They’re the leaders in life,
I spent time with Blue Quells,
who love people with might!

Yellow Quells are so fun!
They fly freely through storms,
While the White Quells make peace,
Having ever open arms.

We Quells all live different,
What we do doesn’t matter,
Our living through loving
Is the determining factor.

So, the next time you feel
Some egg on your head,
Looking down you spot feet
trudging through deep, dark mud,

I hope you’ll remember
This Quell’s crazy story,
Then go live your dream,
It’s there you’ll find glory

Vallerie C. Walsh